“I’ll keep you with me as long as I’m able. Don’t tell Raum, but I would keep you for the rest of your short canine lifespan if I could.”
Luna’s tail lifted a little, and then she put her little gray nose down and sniffed the ground. A moment later, she was off exploring.
Sunshine leaned against the skylight with a smile, enjoying the sun on her skin. She let her thoughts drift, which of course meant they went straight to a certain golden-eyed demon. She closed her eyes and gave in to the butterflies for once, and her smile broadened.
She couldn’t wait for them to be alone later. Perhaps she could convince him to take up where they’d left off after their shower this morning. Perhaps she could convince him to reenact her dream.
A sudden awareness had her eyes snapping open, and she lurched to her feet.
A demon was standing in front of her. Not the one she’d been daydreaming about.
He was not in human form and loomed above her. His skin was ashy gray, and his eyes were an eerily bright yellow. A whip-like tail snapped in the air behind him.
“Mishetsumephtai.” She projected calm though her heartbeat had increased.
“You are the friend of Dan,” he said. “The one he asked to research my…” He trailed off as if reluctant to speak of the slave brands on his neck and wrists in the company of an enemy.
“Yes.” Her gaze fixed on them. They were nearly indiscernible on his dark-gray skin, but she caught glimpses of the pattern where the light reflected.
She had the answers he sought, but she’d kept them to herself. Should she tell him now? Was it smart to pass such information on to the enemy? Were they even still enemies?
“You’ve been with Raum,” the Hunter said.
She nodded.How—?
“I scented you on him the day following Eva’s show. I hunted him and found your apartment, but you had already left for Hell. Lily told me it was too dangerous for me to follow you there, so I waited for your return. When Raum arrived now, the scent was stronger. I traced it here and found you.”
Her eyes widened. His hunter abilities were even greater than she’d imagined, and she felt foolish for not having taken them into consideration.
“You have coerced Raum into something,” Mist said, “or he wouldn’t hide from us.”
She swallowed. She couldn’t refute it. “I mean you and your family no harm.”
The Hunter’s expression didn’t change. She didn’t think he’d blinked once. “I don’t believe you. But it doesn’t matter.”
Her nape prickled, and she decided it was time to get Luna and flash out of here. In fact, it was time to stop procrastinating altogether. She would return Luna to the shelter and then go to Hell herself and get that damned book once and for all. Once she had it…then she’d figure out what to do.
“Is Raum still in the apartment?” she asked the Hunter.
The demon nodded.
“Please tell him I said…not to come after me.” She swallowed. “Tell him I’ll find him when I can.” She would get the book now, and then he’d never have to find out she’d lied to him.
The Hunter frowned.
She would pay Daniel a visit later and give him the information to help Mist, she decided. Demon or not, he deserved his freedom. Now, however, it was time to go.
She scanned their surroundings as discreetly as possible, searching for signs of Luna and finding none. She gritted her teeth. She wasn’t leaving her here, even if it made life difficult.
Without warning, she flashed to the other side of the roof, hoping to spot her.
Several things happened at once.
The Hunter dissolved into black mist. Sunshine spotted Luna on the other corner, pressed against a roof vent. She flashed again to her side, bending to grab her.
The Hunter’s enormous gray body reformed in front of her. Sunshine’s fingers brushed Luna’s soft coat. Mishetsumephtai slapped something cold and metal on her outstretched wrist, and then his sharp claws closed around her arm, tugging her back from the dog.
She tried to flash away but stayed exactly where she was.
